Spring in France
I am getting used to the spring weather in France. There, a rainy morning run in France can just as easily turn into a week of pure sunshine. Temperatures might average in the high teens, and I would be running in just a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Like a changeling, the beautiful weather might be swiftly replaced by a week of dark clouds, with temperatures in the low teens, and with rain looming.
A Rainy Morning Run in France
I woke up to a day of the latter. Light gray clouds scattered across the sky with an occasional ray of sunlight sneaking through, and then quickly slithered away. Météo France forecasted rain today. I would be missing my weekly speed-workout session on the tracks. Having donned a pair of knee-length running tights with a layer of IceBreaker over my t-shirt, I was ready. Then, I pushed myself out of the flat before I could find an excuse not to run.
Along the Way
It was about 1.5 km from my flat to the tracks. I started with a slow jog to the bottom of the hill.
Warm Weather Is Coming
As I descended, I noticed another eatery preparing for warmer spring days. It had set up a wooden platform outside its entrance. There, tables and chairs would welcome customers who wished to dine alfresco. The owner of the eatery seemed to have delayed plans to place the outdoor furniture until the return of the warmer weather.
River Yvette
I continued my run on the pedestrian path that ran along River Yvette. An old man with his back facing me, holding a long fishing pole, was standing by the green shrubs that lined the sides of the river.
Blossoming among the shrubs were bunches of petit white flowers. Incidentally, I think it’s called Fool’s Parsley, and it’s ubiquitous in the spring season. Scattered on the grass were short stalks of Marguerite Daisies, with their radiating petals around a core.
At first glance, I just saw a blackish mound on the grass. A sudden movement caught my attention. My second glance revealed what seemed to be a large river rat curled up into a ball.
The rain still held off. When I reached the running tracks, there was no one. No surprise, given that it was a late morning on a weekday. Good. I got to have the whole facility to myself.
Rain as My Running Companion
It started raining soon after I started on my first lap. The rain was light, and surprisingly not cold. I hardly noticed the rain as I concentrated on maintaining my pace in the first lap, while vainly regulating my laboured breathing. My legs felt heavier than usual and my watch later confirmed that my timing was slower than in previous sessions. Could it be that the new gym sessions that I recently implemented proved to be a little too much for me?
Rain continued to fall. Intermittent. Tiny raindrops clung to my layer of Icebreaker; set against the black background, the raindrops seemed to be shimmering. It was the first time I noticed something like this. Namely, the chirping of the birds would rise and fall with the start and stop of the rain.
Other Companions
Later, a group of pupils arrived and settled outside the running tracks. It seemed to be a class outing. Indeed, groups of two or three pupils scattered in all directions, each with a piece of paper in hand. They seemed to be playing some sort of searching games. It was good to see that the system here does not overprotect its children. After all, a run in light rain does no harm to anyone.
I was glad that I managed to finish my targeted number of laps. My days always look much brighter after a run. Time to go home so that I would not be late for my French class. This rainy morning run in France, with all its little things, was enough to jumpstart my day.